Saturday, August 31, 2013

Summer's End / Dessert Tea




Wow, now where exactly did summer go?


Although it certainly still remains very hot & humid summer weather!


Now that September is nearly upon us,
it is time to bid a fond farewell to August.

Summer season is officially on its way out and 
becoming just another fond memory.







My DH has lately heard me complaining enough about this heat -
 and also how I refuse to do any fall decorating
 until it starts to FEEL like autumn...............

So he surprised me with this
sweet "transitional summer's end" flower bouquet.


I just ♥ sunflowers - they have just cheered me so!



~~~~~*~~~~~



I found this awesome
 French mustard jar thrifting yesterday!

I tucked a few silverplated old teaspoons inside.








The other day I had a couple friends over
 for a relaxed, casual last minute dessert tea.

It was much too hot to host it outside.

I decided to make those happy sunflowers
 the theme of the table.









We used my fun whimsical little sunflower plates.









For convenience and time-constraints
 I purchased most of the sweets -
 making having this tea about as easy as it gets:


Raspberry macarons
Fruit Tartes
Blueberry cheesecake bites
Zucchini bread
Chocolate cupcakes


So, you see?

 Last minute teas can take less than an hour to prepare
 and means so much to a friend or two!

It tells her that you care for her company.

It reminds her you are never too busy to 
keep from nurturing your friendship.


So don't hesitate to plan one of your own easy teas soon!









And please do enjoy the rest of your summertime while it lasts!






"Summer's End"

~~~by Nancy Hughes~~~


No flowers to plant,
No garden to tend,
As summertime lazily
Comes to an end.

It's time to sit back
and deliciously savor
The beauty of the season
and the fruits of our labor.

Farewell to summer;
for autumn make way,
With this last celebration
We call Labor Day.


As always, thank you for your visit!




36 comments:

  1. Aw such a sweet DH! This was the first year we grew sunflowers snd well...we got one giant one! Love your silver spoons too thanks for bisiting. Michele!

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  2. I love the sunflowers, but, I keep zeroing in on that dessert tray. Yes, let's have tea sometime. Your place. lol

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  3. I love sunflowers. And of all the flowers in the world, I cannot make them come up from seed.
    Brenda

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  4. Those sunflowers are so pretty....and the vase is amazing. Beautiful vignette!

    XO,
    Christine

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  5. Your sunflower bouquet has made a nice centrepiece and theme for your tea Michele. Yummy sweets you put out to have with the tea.
    I'll be pulling out the autumn decor over the next week, it's been cooler again and with some leaves turning, I'm in the mood to do a change up in the house.
    Judith

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  6. Beautiful tea vignette with the sunflowers and with lovely sorroundings! Those sweets look delish too. Wish I clould go and join you for tea. Have a blessed weekend.
    FABBY

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  7. I also have four teacups and saucers, plus cake plates, just like your white one...they're our breakfast dishes. Hugs,
    FABBY

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  8. Sunflowers do make one smile. Love your cute plates with the sunflowers and black and white checks. I'd love to have tea at this pretty table. Your treats look delicious!
    The French mustard pot was a terrific find. I have a collection of French mustard pots and am interested to know if this one is marked on the bottom. It is a new one for me. Absolutely wonderful! ~ Sarah

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  9. Michele - I love sunflowers and always think they signal late summer and going into Fall. Love your bouquet and your tea party

    I am your newest follower.

    Judy

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  10. Michele, love the sunflowers and pretty plates. Your desserts look terrific, wish I had a couple right now. The table looks gorgeous.
    I am like you - so ready for fall. This last week has been terrible and today was the topper - to HOT.
    How nice of your honey to bring you flowers to cheer you up.
    Have a cooler Labor Day Weekend.
    Mary

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  11. How nice of your husband! A great bouquet of sunflowers, one of my favorites! Your tea goodies sure look delicious and you are right, the important thing it that you get together with friends!

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  12. Love the sunflowers and what a thoughtful husband you have! Just adding flowers to the table made it so special but with the sunflower plates, it's a lovely table setting. Happy end of summer to you.

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  13. there is nothing happier (in my humble opinion) than a sun(fun)flower! your sunflower plates are great. i have not been cooking -- letting the Fresh Market do the cooking and I do the microwave. ;)

    ox

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  14. Such a lovely tea and all of your goodies look so delish!

    Big Texas Hugs,
    Susan and Bentley

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  15. Your sunflowers has brought a smile to my face,Michele. Love your desert tray.

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  16. Your husband is so thoughtful to the bring sunflower bouquet to you! Then your having friends for tea extended the thoughtfulness. Your sunflower plates were a great touch to your tea table. I like the idea of serving desserts you acquired. Have great Labor Day!

    Pam

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  17. the sunflowers and plates are so cute! but, i gotta admit,,,it's the goodies that first caught my eye:) happy weekend, michele!

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  18. I bet afternoon tea with friends was fun! It does seem like summer flew by... Enjoy your Sunday, Michele.
    XO Mary

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  19. Oh my goodness, your sunflowers and your jar are so pretty, but all the goodies look so yummy and I am starved.

    You said you use Calgon bath beads, what scent do you use. I need to give them a try. You can get one of the tub trays at Amazon really inexpensively. I think they are so fun. Hugs, Marty

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  20. What a perfectly pretty tea you put together. I don't know where the summer has gone either.
    Cute and apropos poem, Michele.
    A pleasure, Ruthie

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  21. Soon, I will, at least, put the 4 th of July decorations away, but as to how much autumn decorating...not quite feeling it yet.

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    Replies
    1. Oh and I should not forget to say that I love your idea for a quick tea.

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  22. How true. Where did summer go. It is so sad to see it go. And I agree, I will not decorate for fall until fall weather is actually here. Your French jar is very beautiful. I have never seen one like it. But I especially enjoyed your lovely tea setting. So so pretty. The fruit tarts look so yummy. Thanks for coming to visit me. I truly enjoy reading your sweet words. Have a great holiday.

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  23. Hi Michele, I'm loving your pretty mustard jar. Your sunflowers make such a happy centerpiece and those dishes....adorable!! Way to go on buying some yummy treats to make it easy.
    I loved the poem, too! xo

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  24. Your sweets look great and I adore your sunflower plates and sunflowers. Beautiful vignette! Have a great week!

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  25. I'd like to have sat at your tea table! I think that tea is one of the nicest ways to visit with a friend.
    Your sunflowers are lovely - they have to be the cheeriest flowers!

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  26. Such a lovely way to spend time with a friend! The sunflowers are perky and such a happy pattern on the dishes. Thank you for joining me for tea, Michele, and enjoy your week.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  27. Beautiful post...love looking at your flowers, and the treats look yummy!

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  28. Hi: Your table is perfect. I love sunflowers. They do just make you feel happy. Have a wonderful week. Blessings, Martha

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  29. Your desserts look yummy! Who wouldn't want to get invited to that?! Your sunflowers are perfect as a centerpiece. Funny how they are often used in Fall decor but are really only grown in summer. They say summer to me! It is hot here too. I don't decorate for Fall until it feels like it too. I'm hoping it will be soon.

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  30. You are so right, Michele ... I need to stop waiting for time to make 15 things from scratch and think more of the value of an "impromptu" tea party. Time with friends is the best part of teatime, after all! Love that your hubby inspired the decor with the gift of the bouquet. How pretty it all looked together!

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  31. What a happy table! Your sunflowers are just stunning! Don't you love them? I sure do!

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  32. Oh yes! I am savoring every last hour of summer. Evenings are cooling off and giving us a little more patio time. (Otherwise it's usually too hot--) Love your beautiful tea. I always say, work smart, not hard! Hope things are good at the Nest!

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  33. Love it Michele. You did such a beautiful table and food. Simple but truly lovely. Hey love ya girl!

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  34. Oh a lovely tea time here! Every thing looks beautiful and delicious. The flowers are gorgeous, as well as your new mustard jar with the cutlery in it.
    I am going to miss summer when it is over. We didn't have the heat this year. Just tons and tons of rain. But now it seems to be settling down. So I am enjoying lots of time on my balcony, and soon I hope, in my tea tent. We have soggy ground still here.
    Have a wonderful Saturday : )
    Hugs,
    Terri

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  35. Hello Michele, how thoughtful of your husband - the sunflowers are perfect for an end of summer treat - your tablescape is lovely and I adore your new mustard pot! I will be featuring your post in this week's A Return to Loveliness,
    Kathy

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Thank you, friend, for taking the time to comment! I read each and every one of them. Your thoughts are appreciated!